In the early 1700s, the “Slave Patrol” was created in the Carolinas with a singular purpose – to establish a systemo f terror and squash slave uprisings. Their mission was to create a group of law enforcement officers with the capacity to pursue, apprehend, and return runaway slaves to their owners. This group is widely acknowledged as the precursor to modern-day policing.
Fast forward to 2023, and the question of whether police departments are still masking as law enforcers is a topic of intense debate. Many argue that the patrolling of people by the police continues, as if they were still slaves, and that there isevidence to suggest that meeting a quota encourages bad behavior. Some even claim that the system is built to make money from the people regardless of whether there is an injured party or real crime.
The fact is that policing in America has its roots in slavery, and it has simply evolved over the years. The fundamental issues with our justice system remain unchanged. Policing has always been about power,control, and oppression. It is asystem that has always been rooted in racism, classism, and economic exploitation.
In many communities, people of color are over-policed and under-protected. The police have a long history of using excessive force when dealing with communities of color, and the result often leads to tragic outcomes.
It’s clear that reform must happen within law enforcement institutions if there is any hope of progress. We must redefine what it means to protect and serve, and we must hold police accountable for their actions.
In conclusion, America’s police departments are still operating in a way that can be considered as residual effects of slavery. As individuals and as a society, we need to take steps to move away from this legacy, and work towards creating a just and humane justice system that serves all Americans.
